California Woman Charged with Abducting Runaway Teen Boys

CARMEL (AP) — Police arrested a Northern California woman who investigators say abducting runaway teenage boys who officers found selling candy in front of a grocery store hundreds of miles from their homes.

Monterey County sheriff’s deputies arrested Michelle Dorsey, 37, on Saturday afternoon in Carmel after deputies responded to complaints of two teen boys refusing to leave the store’s property.

Commander Keith Wingo said Thursday that the boys were selling candy in the store’s parking lot and refused employees’ request to leave. Responding officers grew suspicious while questioning the teens, Wingo said.

“They gave conflicting accounts,” Wingo said. “Their stories simply did not make sense.”

One boy said they were fundraising for a nearby high school’s basketball team while the other teen said they were selling candy for the baseball team. But both teens said they lived in Sacramento, Wingo said.

During questioning, other deputies found three other teens and Dorsey nearby. Wingo says the teens, ages 14 and 15, ultimately told deputies they were from the Sacramento area and were lured to Carmel by Dorsey to make money by selling candy while pretending to raise funds for high school sports teams.

All five are in Child Protective Services custody. Wingo said at least two of the boys have been reported as runaways and the investigation of the other teens’ living arrangement is ongoing.

Dorsey remains jailed on $5,000 bail on suspicion of felony child abduction and misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Jail records don’t show if she is represented by an attorney.